I use a large laptop (happens to be MacBook Pro, but this issue is not platform-related) on economy tray tables fairly often. It works, but I'm on the small side for a guy. I don't want to give it up because most of my use, even while traveling, is not on airplanes and I'm not willing to compromise that.

One suggestion I'd make, which has worked for me, is to alert the person in front of you that you're using it. I tell them that it's their right to recline and I have no problem with it*, but that I'd appreciate a heads-up so I can move my computer out of harm's way and if they would recline slowly. So far nobody has had a problem with that.

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*Let's not hijack this thread into yet another reclining rant thread, either pro or con!